Travelling Tennis Set in wooden box c. 1889

Object Type
Sporting equipment/Playing equipment/Set of playing equipment
Sporting equipment/Box
Sporting equipment/Playing equipment/Racquet
Sporting equipment/Playing equipment/Net
Sporting equipment/Playing equipment/Net/Pole
Sporting equipment/Playing equipment/Rope
Date Used
Circa 1880
See full details

Object Detail

Brief Description
Travelling tennis set, by Moubray, Rowan & Hicks Manufacturers and Importers. Complete, consists of wooden storage box, two racquets, net, rigging and tools; 9 parts. On the underside of one racquet handle are the initials: 'FGB'. These may be those of the original owner of the tennis set, of whom nothing is known except that the set came from Victoria's Western District. Set probably dates from the 1880s - no less than seven years after lawn tennis was developed (1873) from royal tennis, becoming a leisure sport for the upper classes. 1. Box - Oblong, red-brown coloured wood box with hinged lid and metal fittings. Inside is a chain on left side to hold lid. Maker's/Importer's badge is on the centre of the rim of the box proper, beneath the lid. 2. Tennis racquet, has a two-toned wooden handle and an asymmetrical head. A metallic plaque on the neck of the racquet features manufacturers/importers details. 3. Tennis racquet has a two-toned wooden handle and an asymmetrical head. On the underside of the handle, are the initials: 'FGB'. These may be those of the original owner of the tennis set, of whom is only known that they came from Victoria's Western District. 4. Net, lightweight string and cord, (rolled for storage); it is tied with two original pieces of cord. 5. Two poles, wood, each in three sections. Rounded and varnished with a brass fitting at the base. At the top of the two upper sections it is rounded into a knob, where the end of the guy rope is slung over. 6. Four guy ropes, made from three twisted orange and brown cords. Used to support the two tennis net poles. This is done by feeding the loop at the centre of the rope around the knob at the top of the pole, and then fastening the two toggled ends of the rope into the ground with pegs. The toggles are made from blue painted wood. 7. A set of nine blue-painted hand carved wooden pegs. Used to peg in guy-ropes which support the two poles and net in the tennis set. Each peg is wedge shaped and cut from one side to form a lip, around which the ropes were fastened. 8. Lightweight, varnished, wooden mallet with three grooves cut around handle near the base. Used to hammer in pegs to the secure guy ropes supporting the net poles. 9. 'T' shaped screwdriver; has a metal shaft and a wooden handle.
Museum
Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum
Measurements
Box: H: 220 W: 820 D: 330mm (H: 8 11/16 W: 32 5/16 D: 13")
Racquet: H: 687 W: 205 D: 30mm (H: 27 1/16 W: 8 1/16 D: 1 3/16")
Racquet: H: 683 W: 225 D: 30mm (H: 26 7/8 W: 8 7/8 D: 1 3/16")
Net: H: 650 W: 200 D: 200mm (H: 25 9/16 W: 7 7/8 D: 7 7/8")
Poles: H: 1620 W: 40 D: 40mm (H: 63 3/4 W: 1 9/16 D: 1 9/16")
Guy Ropes: H: 4800 W: 30 D: 10mm (H: 189 W: 1 3/16 D: 3/8")
Pegs: H: 260 W: 40 D: 20mm (H: 10 1/4 W: 1 9/16 D: 13/16")
Mallet: H: 470 W: 80 D: 37mm (H: 18 1/2 W: 3 1/8 D: 1 7/16")
Screwdriver: H: 230 W: 95 D: 25mm (H: 9 1/16 W: 3 3/4 D: 1")
Media/Materials
Wood
Metal
Wood
String
Metal
Leather
String
Cord
Wood
Brass
Varnish
Rope
Wood
Paint
Wood
Paint
Wood
Wood
Metal
Associated Person
Date Used
Circa 1880
Location
In storage
Registration No
1989.2066.1

Object Type

Sport

Colours

Subject Auto Tags

Share

Comments

Be the first to comment.